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Soccer game at the bank yesterday

Did any of you baltimore locals go to the liverpool spurs game yesterday at the bank? if you did, how did you find it? Would it help pick up your interest in soccer? How was the atmosphere? full house? etc etc.

Just curious on your thoughts of the game yesterday, granted it was a pre season game

Re: Soccer game at the bank yesterday

arnie-
No longer residing on the mean streets of Ellicott City (a burb of Baltimore), I did have the opportunity to watch some of the game on TV down here in Hickory, NC. The announcers (I think both from your side of the Pond) seemed to me to be impressed by the attendance and atmosphere of the crowd. Not sure what the attendance was, but I was pleased to see what appeared to be a lot of filled seats, with team colors, at M&T (based on the camera angles they showed), although maybe not to the level of a big Ravens game (say, v. Pitt). I had to laugh hearing the one announcer who kept telling the audience that Baltimore was NOT the capitol of Maryland, it's Annapolis! (SWMBO suggested that it was probably for the benefit of the non-USA viewers)

IMHO, I think it may help support the overall interest in soccer in this country, but soccer is quite ingrained in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, and its popularity really runs up AND down the east coast from there as well - Philly, NY, NE and north, while NOVA, Carolinas, Atlanta, and into Florida to the south. Friends always used to ask me why I didin't attend this or that game that came to Baltimore way back when (70's when Pele did a bunch of stuff), and I'd tell them I had a scheduling conflict with my own team's game! I think a lot of folks had and still have that type of issue, where a couple good "foreign" teams schedule an exhibition or whatever, but so many guys AND ladies are playing or officiating or coaching, and they don't want to miss their own game(s).

Hope you're enjoying the Olympics. I've been OD'ing on the soccer matches over the past few days, both ladies and mens, AND got to watch much of the AC Milan-Chelsea match in Miami.

Re: Soccer game at the bank yesterday

I was there. The near 100 degree heat definitely effected the play as the players did not seem accustomed to the temperatures. The turf (real grass layered on the PAT that we use for football) was long and slow, which also changed the game a bit. I thought there was about 50 good minutes of soccer, about 15 minutes in when they figured out the turf, and then until they were all gassed. The crowd was about 42,000 (capacity 70k+), but was very into the action and it was a good atmosphere. Soccer is very big in this corridor, as Beau mentioned above, and there were many people at this game from the region, not just Baltimore.

Re: Soccer game at the bank yesterday

They put down real grass on top of the turf?

WARNING: This post may contain material offensive to those who lack wit, humor, common sense and/or supporting factual or anecdotal evidence. All statements and assertions contained herein may be subject to literary devices not limited to: irony, metaphor, allusion and dripping sarcasm.

Re: Soccer game at the bank yesterday

Originally Posted by HoustonRaven

They put down real grass on top of the turf?

Yep, they did they same thing for Man City v. Inter and Chelsea v. AC Milan the past few years. The European teams will not play their "friendlies" on turf. So, they truck in sod-like turf and layer it on top of the PAT. There's an inch deep layer of rubber between the turf and the sod, so as you can imagine, the entire surface gets pretty soft. Its very different than the low fast grass surfaces they are use to. My son played in a halftime scrimmage during the Inter/Man City game, and he said it was like quicksand.

Re: Soccer game at the bank yesterday

Originally Posted by cealex1223

Yep, they did they same thing for Man City v. Inter and Chelsea v. AC Milan the past few years. The European teams will not play their "friendlies" on turf. So, they truck in sod-like turf and layer it on top of the PAT. There's an inch deep layer of rubber between the turf and the sod, so as you can imagine, the entire surface gets pretty soft. Its very different than the low fast grass surfaces they are use to. My son played in a halftime scrimmage during the Inter/Man City game, and he said it was like quicksand.

That surprises me. Thanks for the info.

I'd think the softer turf would lend itself to an increase risk of injuries.

WARNING: This post may contain material offensive to those who lack wit, humor, common sense and/or supporting factual or anecdotal evidence. All statements and assertions contained herein may be subject to literary devices not limited to: irony, metaphor, allusion and dripping sarcasm.